The director of the National Disability Authority, Claire O'Connor, has resigned.
A spokesman for the authority, which advises the Government on disability issues, said the organisation had accepted Ms O'Connor's resignation.
"The authority has requested the Department of Justice to provide it with a public servant to act as interim director. The authority wishes Claire well in her future career."
It was not immediately clear when the resignation will take effect and no explanation was given for the resignation. Ms O'Connor has held the post for four years.
A spokeswoman for the Department of Justice said last night she was aware of the resignation but declined to comment further. "It's a matter between the board and the director," she said.
The authority's current strategic plan, in place since 2004, lapses next year. Sources in the disability sector said the authority was likely to spend time in the coming months discussing its operations and its role in the light of the new Disability Act and the national disability strategy.
An accountant by profession and a former chief executive of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ireland, Ms O'Connor joined the authority as director in August 2001 after a lengthy career in the financial sector.
She was a founder member of the Empowering Partnership in Care charity, and was secretary to the advisory group to the Minister for Health on the risk equalisation scheme for health insurers.
